Limonium plant named &#39;danlisablue&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Limonium  plant named ‘Danlisablue’ particularly characterized by the combination of violet-blue flower color, RHS 93 B; high stems measuring 70-90 cm; panicle branching habit; flexible stems; and a yield of 6-10 stems per plant in the first flash.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Limonium altaica

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Danlisablue’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Limoniumplant, botanically known as Limonium altaica, hereinafter referred to bythe variety denomination ‘Danlisablue’.

Limonium, of the Plumbaginaceae family, is commonly known assealavender. Limonium is found wild on sea coasts and marshes across theNorthern Hemisphere.

The new cultivar originated from an open pollination of Limonium plantswithin a breeding program field, discovered in a controlled environmentin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is proprietarycultivar designated ‘PTE’ (unpatented). The male parent is unknown.‘Danlisablue’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, GabrielDanziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the openpollination program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture was firstperformed in August, 2001, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproducestrue-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Danlisablue’ which in combinationdistinguish this Limonium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. violet-blue flower color, RHS 93 B;

2. high stems measuring 70-90 cm;

3. panicle branching habit;

4. flexible stems; and

5. yield of 6 to 10 stems per plant in the first flash.

‘Danlisablue’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylengthwithout any change in the genotype of the plant. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Table 1 provides a comparison between plants of ‘Danlisablue’ and plantsof the parent, ‘PTE’ (unpatented). TABLE 1 Female Parent Trait‘Danlisablue’ ‘PTE’ (unpatented) Flower color Violet-blue group,Violet-blue group, RHS 93B RHS 93D Number of Flowers Approximately 30Approximately 30 flowers in flowers in full bloom full bloom Growth andErect growth habit; Erect growth habit; Branching Habit paniclebranching habit panicle branching habit Yield of Stems 6-10 stems perplant in the 8-12 stems per plant first flash in the first flash

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin comparison to ‘Danlisablue’ is the cultivar ‘Tall Emille’(unpatented). In comparison to ‘Tall Emille’, ‘Danlisablue’ has flexiblestems whereas ‘Tall Emille’ has durable stems, and ‘Danlisablue’ has anarrow shaped inflorescence and panicle branching habit (Type IV,Chart 1) while ‘Tall Emille’ has an open and wide shaped inflorescence(Type I, Chart 1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Limonium showing the colors as true as is reasonably possiblewith color reproductions of this type. The first photograph shows a topview of a flowering “Danlisablue’ plant. The second photograph shows aside view of a flowering ‘Danlisablue’ plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, in Mediterraneanclimate at sea level, under conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice. Irrigation and fertilization useis common to commercial practice for Limonium.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS) (published 2001) except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately 10:00 AM in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age ofthe plant described was 1 year old, in its second flash and the stemwhich used to determine the RHS colour was at 30-50% open flower stage.

PLANT

-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Height.—70-90 cm.        -   Spread.—40-50 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Erect.        -   Growth rate.—7-9 weeks from planting to the first bloom.        -   Branching habit and description.—Panicle.        -   Flowering stem length.—70-90 cm.        -   Flowering response.—Day natural.        -   Flowering season.—All year; spring, summer and autumn in            open field, during the winter in greenhouse.        -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—Frost tender.        -   Postproduction longevity.—2 weeks.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Once tissue culture plantlets show            small roots, plantlets are transferred from the tissue            culture medium to a peat soil, then placed in 100% humid            condition for 7-14 days at 18-35° C., then the plantlets are            transferred to regular irrigation and fertilization.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—30 to 45 days from the            arrival from the tissue culture laboratory until the plants            are ready to plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

STEMS

-   -   -   Appearance.—Panicle.        -   Aspect.—Stable, Erect.        -   Length.—70-90 cm.        -   Diameter.—Typical: 1-2 mm Observed: 1-2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green Group, RHS 139 A.        -   Internode length.—Typical: 7-10 cm Observed: 7-10 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Overall shape of leaf: Obovate.-   Apex: Obtuse.-   Base: Cuneate.-   Length: 15-30 cm.-   Width: 4-6 cm.-   Margin: Entire.-   Texture: Smooth.-   Color of upper surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136 A.        -   Immature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136 A.-   Color of lower surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136 B.        -   Immature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136 B.-   Venation: None.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—3-12 cm.        -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Color.—Green Group, RHS 141 C.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Flower type and habit: Erect, trumpet shaped.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—0.5-0.8 mm.        -   Depth.—0.5 mm.-   Overall shape: Trumpet shaped.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—0.5 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color when opening.—White, RHS 155A, at the base and            violet-blue, RHS 93D, at the top.        -   Color when fully open.—White, RHS 155A, at the base and            violet-blue, RHS 93D, at the top.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Round Saucer-shaped.        -   Number of petals.—5 separate petals.        -   Diameter.—5-7 mm.        -   Depth.—Typical: 0.7 cm Observed: 0.7 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex shape.—Truncate.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color when opening.—Upper surface: Violet-Blue Group RHS 93            B Lower surface: Violet-Blue Group RHS 93 B.        -   Color when fully open.—Upper surface: Violet-Blue Group RHS            93 B Lower surface: Violet-Blue Group RHS 93 C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4.        -   Shape.—Oval when stretched out and semi tubular on the            plant.        -   Length.—2-4 mm.        -   Width.—1-2 mm.        -   Form.—Alternate, very dense.        -   Color.—Green and transparent sepals cover the calyx. Upper            surface: Green, RHS 141 C Lower surface: Green, RHS 141 C.-   Bud:    -   -   Color.—Violet-Blue, RHS 93 B.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—2-3 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.-   Peduncle description: Borne from 2 sepals, 4 mm long, smooth    texture; green color, RHS 141 C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamen: 5 in number; white in color.-   Anthers: 5 in number, 0.5-1 mm in length; brown-black in color.-   Pistil: 5 in number.-   Stigma: Filament; white in color.-   Style: Filament; white in color.-   Ovary: Green in color.-   Seeds:    -   -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Color.—Brown.-   Fruit: White-brown in color.-   Pollen: Yellow in color.-   Disease/Pest resistance/susceptibility: Unknown.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of ‘Danlisablue’ have exhibited good    tolerance to draught, rain and wind, however flowering may cease    during hot periods (temperatures above 30° C.).

1. A new and distinct Limonium plant named ‘Danlisablue’, as illustratedand described herein.